Lightweight modular snap-tight interlocking deck and process for constructing a pontoon boat therewith

ABSTRACT

A modular snap-tight interlocking deck and process for constructing a pontoon boat with said deck is described. The modular deck includes lightweight planks that snap together using a tongue-in-groove design. Once joined, the planks are inseparable and form a rigid, flat, watertight surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to modular, watertight decks and more specifically to modular decks for pontoon boats.

Typical pontoon boats have two long pontoons, on top of which a deck is overlaid. The deck is usually constructed of marine-grade plywood and is attached to the pontoons using a Z- or C-bar frame, the latter being the current preferred method. The plywood deck design suffers from several deficiencies. Plywood decks require wave shields to lessen upward seepage through the seams of the deck. Such seepage causes wet spots on the carpeted floors of pontoon boats and wood rot, and the wave shield adds weight to the boat. The invention solves the seepage problem by creating a watertight deck and eliminates the need for a wave shield.

Another deficiency in plywood-decked pontoon boats is the flex at the frame mounting points when the boat is moving through rough water. Said flex causes the pontoons to deviate from the desired parallel pontoon track. The structural rigidity provided by the invention dictates that the pontoons maintain a parallel track even in rough water.

Because a plywood deck requires a frame, the deck height of a boat with such a frame is higher than the deck height of a boat with the deck herein disclosed. The consequences of a lower deck are a lower center of gravity. For pontoon boats, a lower center of gravity results in better planing characteristics. In addition to deck height, the weight savings of an extruded metal deck (22% for the preferred embodiment that uses aluminum) also increases boat performance.

Finally, the assembly of pontoon boats using the disclosed invention rather than plywood decks is easier and faster, thus requiring less labor than traditional methods of pontoon boat construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Bearing the deficiencies of the prior art in mind, it is the object of the invention to provide a lightweight, modular, rigid, and strong deck that is easy to manufacture and assemble.

A number of planks are snapped together using tongue-in-groove connectors on each side of the plank to form a deck of a selected length. Once the deck has reached the desired size, it is squared and spot-welded on the sides of the planks at the seams between adjoining planks. Such welding ensures that the deck remains square because the planks have a slight amount of play when snapped together.

Once the deck is assembled, it is attached to a structure of choice, the preferred embodiment being a plurality of pontoons. In said preferred embodiment, the deck is welded to the pontoons using angle brackets, although a variety of other methods are contemplated. The preferred embodiment uses at least four welds per plank, on either seam where the plank interlocks with two other planks, to ensure structural rigidity. These welds are the same welds used to attach the deck to the pontoons, thus they serve the dual purpose of attachment and strength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a single plank used in the construction of the interlocking deck according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the process by which two adjoining planks are snapped together according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front or rear view showing a pontoon attached to the deck according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom-view-showing pontoons attached to the deck and showing structural welds according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a pontoon attached to the deck according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, like referenced numerals are used to identify identical components in the various figures.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a plank that snaps together with other planks may be used for any purpose that requires a rigid, lightweight, flat deck whose size is determined by the size and number of planks used. In the preferred embodiment, tongues 1 and 2 snap into grooves 3 and 4. It is preferred that the plank has internal structural support, as shown in the present invention by perpendicular support 6. The preferred composition of the plank in FIG. 1 is extruded aluminum, although any lightweight material capable of the rigidity necessary to make adjoining planks inseparable would suffice.

Referring now to FIG. 2, generally tongue-in-groove connectors 7 are used to secure adjoining planks by applying pressure 9 toward ninety-degree bend 8 in the tongue-and-groove connector 7.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the preferred embodiment for constructing a pontoon boat is to attach deck 11 composed of interlocking planks to pontoon 12 using angle brackets 10. Other contemplated methods of attaching pontoon 12 to deck 11 include using a pontoon with flat surfaces capable of being directly welded to the deck.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment for constructing a pontoon boat is to attach deck 11 to pontoon 12 so that a portion of the deck extends beyond the ends of the pontoon. The deck 11 portion that overhangs the pontoons receives welds 13 to increase the structural rigidity of said portion of the deck.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the preferred embodiment for constructing a pontoon boat is to attach deck 11 composed of interlocking planks to pontoon 12 using angle brackets 10. Other contemplated methods of attaching pontoon 12 to deck 11 include using a pontoon with flat surfaces capable of being directly welded to the deck.

While the best mode for the current invention has been disclosed here above in detail, persons having ordinary skill in the art will recognize various embodiments for practicing the invention as disclosed in the claims. 

1. A plank comprising of: a. a rectangular piece with a flat top and bottom; b. one side of said plank having an L-shaped connector piece with tongues on the ends of said connector; c. the opposite side of said plank having grooves for locking to said tongues on an adjoining plank; d. said tongues and said grooves will hereinafter be referred to as a “tongue-in-groove connector.”
 2. The plank of claim 1 wherein said tongues of one plank are placed into said grooves of an adjoining plank, and said adjoining planks are snapped together by applying a force toward the 90-degree bend of said L-shaped connector.
 3. The plank of claim 1 wherein said rectangular plank has an internal structural support.
 4. The plank of claim 1 wherein said tongue-in-groove connectors are reinforced at the stress points where said adjoining planks connect.
 5. The plank of claim 1 wherein said plank, once snapped to another identical plank, cannot be slid apart.
 6. The plank of claim 1 wherein said plank, once snapped to another identical plank, cannot be popped apart.
 7. A deck comprising: a. a plurality of planks further comprising: i. a rectangular piece with a flat top and bottom; ii. one side of said plank having an L-shaped connector piece with tongues on the ends of said connector; iii. the opposite side of said plank having grooves for locking to said tongues on an adjoining plank; b. snapping said planks together by inserting said tongues into said grooves and applying a force toward the 90-degree bend of said L-shaped connector.
 8. The deck of claim 7 wherein said deck is made watertight by attaching a trim piece to the hollow sides to said planks that form said deck.
 9. The deck of claim 7 wherein said planks comprising deck cannot be slid apart.
 10. The deck of claim 7 wherein said planks comprising deck cannot be popped apart.
 11. A method of attaching the deck of claim 7 to a plurality of pontoons by: a. Spot-welding seams of said individual adjoining planks comprising deck on the hollow side of said planks to ensure that each said plank is square with respect to all said planks; b. Welding said pontoons to a plurality of angle brackets spanning the length of said pontoons; c. Welding said angle brackets to said deck at seams between said adjoining planks comprising said deck; d. Welding the portions of said deck that overhang said pontoons in a plurality of locations; e. Welding said deck such that each said plank comprising said deck has a plurality of welds securing said plank to adjoining planks.
 12. A method of attaching the deck of claim 7 to a plurality of pontoons by: a. Spot-welding seams of said individual adjoining planks comprising deck on the hollow side of said planks to ensure that each said plank is square with respect to all said planks; b. Welding said pontoons to said deck at seams between said adjoining planks comprising said deck; c. Welding the portions of said deck that overhang said pontoons in a plurality of locations; d. Welding said deck such that each said plank comprising said deck has a plurality of welds securing said plank to adjoining planks. 